Embedded security system for environment-controlled transportation containers and method for detecting a security risk for environment-controlled transportation containers

ABSTRACT

An embedded security system for an environment-controlled trailer including a transportation refrigeration unit. The security system includes a plurality of sensors mounted to the trailer and a communication device embedded in the transportation refrigeration unit of the trailer, the communication device being configured to receive data from the plurality of sensors, and to send the received data to a controller being remote from the trailer. The controller is configured to monitor the security status of the trailer and to determine a security risk at the trailer based, at least in part, on the received data.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to security systems for environment-controlledtransportation containers. In particular, the invention relates to asecurity system for an environment-controlled container including anenvironment control unit, an embedded security system for anenvironment-controlled trailer including a transportation refrigerationunit, and a method for detecting a security risk at anenvironment-controlled trailer including a transportation refrigerationunit.

BACKGROUND

Environment-controlled transportation containers, such as refrigeratedtrailers, refrigerated containers, and other environment-controlledtrucks, are used for transporting goods that are to be kept in anenvironment range to prevent spoiling (e.g., below or above a certaintemperature). Sometimes, the refrigerated transported cargo has a veryhigh value measured in tens, and sometime in hundreds of thousands ofdollars (e.g., pharmaceutical products). Generally, the logisticscompanies assume the risk of theft of the cargo when these companies arehired to transport the cargo. Therefore, the logistics companies mustmonitor the security status of the container and communicate the statusto a remote location along with other information, such as the locationof the container and the status of the environmental conditions of thecontainer.

SUMMARY

Although there are exiting security systems for environment-controlledtransportation containers, these systems have various deficiencies. Forexample, the electrical power to the telecommunications modem(telematics), which transfers an alarm signal to a central location, isgenerally supplied by an environment control unit (e.g., atransportation refrigeration unit or TRU) of the transportationcontainer. Further, the telematics antenna of the exiting securitysystems is typically in plain sight and is mounted on top of the TRU.Thieves know that the environment-controlled transportation containersare monitored by security systems. Feedback provided by logisticsoperators is that the thieves disconnect the TRU battery or disconnectthe telematics antenna in order to disable system monitoring andtelematics communication. Consequently, theft protection monitoring islost once either one or both the battery or the antenna are disabled.Thus, there is a need for an improved security monitoring system forenvironment-controlled transportation containers that can provide andmaintain telematics remote monitoring for security protection.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an embedded security systemfor an environment-controlled trailer including a transportationrefrigeration unit. The security system includes a plurality of sensorsmounted to the trailer and a communication device embedded in thetransportation refrigeration unit of the trailer, the communicationdevice being configured to receive data from the plurality of sensors,and to send the received data to a controller being remote from thetrailer. The controller is configured to monitor the security status ofthe trailer and to determine a security risk at the trailer based, atleast in part, on the received data.

In another embodiment the invention provides a method for detecting asecurity risk at an environment-controlled trailer including atransportation refrigeration unit and a communication device removablycoupled to a controller of the transportation refrigeration unit. Themethod includes obtaining sensor data from a plurality of sensorsmounted to the trailer and a current location of the trailer from aglobal positioning system (GPS), receiving communication, including thesensor data and the current trailer location, from the plurality ofsensors and from the GPS, sending the sensor data and the currenttrailer location to a controller that is remote from the trailer, andreceiving a response from the controller, the response indicative of asecurity risk at the trailer.

In yet another embodiment the invention provides a security system foran environment-controlled container including an environment controlunit. The security system includes a plurality of sensors mounted to thecontainer and a communication device removably connected to a controllerof the environment control unit, the communication device configured toreceive sensor data from the plurality of sensors. The system alsoincludes a global positioning system embedded in the communicationdevice and configured to provide a current location of the container tothe communication device and a logistics operations center controllerthat is in electronic communication with the communication device and isconfigured to receive sensor data and the current location of thecontainer from the communication device. The system further includes acomputer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by thelogistics operations center controller, cause the logistics operationscenter controller to monitor the received sensor data and the locationof the container and to determine a security risk at the containerbased, at least in part, on the received data and trailer location.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an embedded security system for anenvironment-controlled transportation container.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a communication device of the embeddedsecurity system of FIG. 1 mounted to a controller of the container ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the embedded security system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an installation and operation of thecommunication device of FIG. 2 for communicating to a remote operationscenter.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an operation of an exemplary remoteoperations center of the embedded security system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any construction of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiment and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways.

As should also be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, thesystems shown in the figures are models of what actual systems might belike. Many of the modules and logical structures described are capableof being implemented in software executed by a microprocessor or asimilar device or being implemented in hardware using a variety ofcomponents. As described in subsequent paragraphs, the specificconfigurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplifyembodiments of the invention and other alternative configurations arepossible. A plurality of different structural components may be utilizedto implement the invention. Furthermore, throughout the specificationcapitalized terms are used. Such terms are used to conform to commonpractices and to help correlate the description with the codingexamples, equations, and/or drawings. However, no specific meaning isimplied or should be inferred simply due to the use of capitalization.Thus, the claims should not be limited to the specific examples orterminology or to any specific hardware or software implementation orcombination of software or hardware.

FIG. 1 shows one construction of an embedded security system 10 for anenvironment-controlled container (e.g., a refrigerated trailer). Asemi-trailer truck 15 with a refrigerated trailer 20 having atransportation refrigeration unit (“TRU”) 25 is monitored by thesecurity system 10. A communication device 30, that is embedded in theTRU 25, receives data from a plurality of sensors 35. The communicationdevice 30 also receives the current location of the trailer 20 from aglobal positioning system 40 (“GPS) that is embedded in thecommunication device 30. The communication device 30 sends the receivedsensor data and current location of the trailer via wide areacommunication network 42 to a controller 45 at a remote logisticsoperations center 50. The controller 45 monitors the security status ofthe trailer 20 and determines a security risk at the trailer based, atleast in part, on the received data and the current trailer location.

Generally, the TRU 25 regulates the temperature of the trailer 20 andcan have different sizes and shapes. In most cases, the TRU 25 ismounted on the top front portion of the trailer 20, approximately aboveand/or behind the cabin of the semi-trailer truck 15 (depending on thetype of the truck). The TRU 25 includes a controller 55 embedded insidea TRU control box 60 (not shown). Generally, the trailer 20 and the TRUare monitored and controlled by a remote control system (not shown)located at the logistics operations center. The remote control systemreceives data from the refrigerated trailer 20 either by polling thetrailer 20 or by scheduled periodic communication.

The data that the remote control system receives from the refrigeratedtrailer 20 includes, but is not limited to, the trailer's presentposition, a speed of the trailer, a temperature set point in thetrailer, a return air temperature, a discharge air temperature, anoperating mode, a unit mode, an alarm status, an hours of operationindication, a fuel quantity, a fuel consumption rate and total, a statusof a door, a battery voltage, and other sensed information. In response,the remote control system can communicate with and/or send commands backto the trailer 20.

It is to be understood that the security system 10 of the refrigeratedtrailer 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 represents only one exemplaryconstruction, and thus other constructions are possible. Therefore, thesecurity system 10 can be implemented in other environment-controlledcontainers. In one example, the security system 10 can be used incontainers or vehicles that require the temperature of the container tobe kept above a specific threshold (e.g., floral containers, etc.). Inother constructions, the security system 10 can be used to regulateother environmental characteristics of the container (e.g., humidity,air pressure, light). Further, depending on the type of theenvironment-controlled container, the communication device 30 can beremovably coupled to other types of environment control units.

The existing trailer remote control system is not always sufficient toprotect the cargo of the refrigerated trailer 20 from theft. For thatreason, the embedded security system 10 is used in addition to or in thealternative of the remote control system. As shown in FIG. 2, in orderto protect the security system 10, the communication device 30 of thesecurity system 10 is embedded inside the control box 60 of the TRU 25and is removably connected (i.e., mounted) to the TRU controller 55. Forexample, the communication device 30 comprises an extra printed circuitboard that is attached to the top of the main printed circuit board ofthe TRU controller 55.

As shown in FIG. 3, the TRU controller 55 further includes a processor56 (e.g., a microprocessor, microcontroller, ASIC, DSP, etc.) and memory57 (e.g., flash, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, etc.), which can be internal to theprocessor 56, external to the processor 56, or a combination thereof.The TRU controller 55 controls the operation of the communication device30. In alternative constructions, the communication device 30 caninclude a separate processor and/or memory (not shown) that processesthe sensor data, determines a security risk associated with the trailer,and notifies the logistic operations center. In some constructions, thecommunication device 30 is held in place by one or more fasteners (e.g.,screws). Other methods for securing the communication device 30 in placeare also contemplated. When installed, the communication device 30 isheld in place such that it will not separate from the controller 55 ofthe TRU 25 when the trailer 20 is moving. In alternative constructions,the communication device 30 can include a separate microprocessor and/ormemory that are independent from the TRU controller 55.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a construction of the embeddedsecurity system 10 for a refrigerated trailer. The security system 10includes the communication device 30 that is embedded in the TRUcontroller 55, a plurality of sensors 35 mounted to the trailer, a powersupply 65 powering the communication device 30, and an antenna 70. Thecommunication device 30 is in electronic communication with thecontroller 45 located at the remote logistics operations center 50. Thecontroller 45 includes a computer readable memory 48 that storesinstructions for the controller 45. When executed by the controller 45,the instructions cause the controller to determine a security risk atthe trailer 20.

The communication device 30 of the embedded security system 10 isdirectly connected to the plurality of sensors 35. In the conventionalsecurity systems for refrigerated containers, the sensors 35 areconnected to the TRU controller 55. Thus, when thieves disable the TRU(e.g., by disconnecting the TRU battery) they interrupt thecommunication between the sensors 35 and the standard trailer securitysystem. By directly connecting the sensors 35 to the communicationdevice 30, the embedded security system 10 avoids this problem andensures that the sensor data will be sent to the communication device 30and, consequently, to the controller 45. In some constructions, thesensors 35 can include door switch sensors 75 and at least one fuellevel sensor 80. The door switch sensors 75 are positioned at the backswinging doors of the trailer 20. In addition, door switch sensors 75are positioned at the side doors of the trailer 20 (i.e., when thetrailer is a multizone trailer that includes several areas withdifferent temperate levels). The door switch sensors 75 monitor thestatus of the trailer doors (e.g., whether the doors are opened orclosed) and transmit data related to the status of the doors to thecommunication device 30. The fuel level sensor 80 monitors the level offuel supply to the TRU 25 and transmits data related to the TRU fuelsupply level to the communication device 30. In alternativeconstructions, the embedded security system 10 can include differenttype of sensors that transfer other types of data to the communicationdevice 30.

The communication device 30 also includes the GPS 40 that is embedded inthe communication device 30 (e.g., the GPS is a chip on board attachedto the communication device). The GPS 40 determines the current locationof the trailer 20. Further, the communication device 30 includes acommunication circuit 36 (e.g., cellular radio) that provides thecommunication device 30 with communication capabilities. In particular,the communication circuit 36 is configured to send various data (e.g.,sensor data received from the sensors 35 and the current location of thetrailer 20) to the controller 45. The communication circuit 36 sends thesensor data and the current trailer location to the controller by usingthe wide area communication network 42. In some constructions, the widearea communication network 42 can include cellular, satellite, WiFi,wireless personal area network (WPAN), radio frequency, or other typesof communication network. Thus, the communication circuit 36 and thecontroller 45 can communicate via a cellular link, a satellite link, aWiFi link (e.g., via a router), a WPAN link (e.g., to a personal dataassistant), a radio frequency (RF) link, and other suitablecommunications links.

As shown in FIG. 3, the GPS 40 and the communication circuit 36 areconnected to at least one antenna 70 that is embedded in the TRU controlbox 60. The antenna 70 of the embedded security system 10 is out ofsight and can not be viewed from outside the trailer 20. The antenna ofthe conventional remote monitoring systems is generally positioned onthe top of the TRU box 60 or in another area where is in plain sightfrom outside the trailer. When thieves brake or disconnect the antenna,they ultimately disable the conventional trailer monitoring system.Therefore, the embedded security system 10 includes the antenna 70 thatis hidden inside the TRU box 60 and, therefore, can not be easilydisabled. In alternative constructions, the communication circuit 36 ofthe embedded security system 10 can also be connected to the antennapositioned on the outside of the TRU 25.

The communication device 30 further includes a power supply circuit 37.The power supply circuit 37 controls the power supplied to thecommunication device. In the conventional remote monitoring systems forrefrigerate trailers, power to the telecommunications modem (i.e., thetelematics that communicates with the operations center) is generallysupplied by the TRU 25 starter battery. In the embedded security system10, the communication device 30 is powered by the starter battery 46 ofthe TRU. In addition, the communication device 30 is powered by a backupbattery 47 embedded in the control box 60 of the TRU. Therefore, even ifthe starter battery 46 of the TRU is removed or disconnected, thecommunication device 30 and the security system 10 can still operate anddetect a security risk at the trailer 20.

For that reason, the power supply circuit 37 of the communication device30 is configured to automatically switch to the backup battery 47 whenthe starter battery 46 is removed or disconnected. When the starterbattery 46 is reconnected to the TRU 25 and to the communication device30, the power supply circuit 37 of the communication device 30 isconfigured to automatically switch to the starter battery 46. Further,the power supply circuit 37 of the communication device 30 is alsoconfigured to recharge the backup battery 47 when reconnected to thestarter battery 46.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method that shows the operation of thecommunication device 30 of the security system 10 for communicating tothe controller 45 of the remote operations center 50. Initially, theplurality of sensors 35 mounted on the trailer 20 obtain various sensorreadings and the GPS 40 embedded in the communication device 30 obtainsthe current location of the trailer 20 (step 105). Next, the sensors 35and the GPS 40 transmit the sensor readings and the current trailerlocation to the communications device 30 (step 110). The communicationdevice 30 receives the communication from the plurality of sensors 35and from the GPS 40 (step 115). For example, the communication devicereceives information regarding the status of the trailer doors from thedoor switch sensors 75 and information about the level of the fuelsupply to the TRU 25 from the fuel level sensor 80. The communicationdevice 30 can temporarily save the received sensor data and the currentsensor location to the memory 57 of the TRU controller 55 (step 120).Next, by using the communication circuit 36 and the antenna 70, thecommunication device sends the sensor data and the current sensorlocation to the controller 45 of the remote operations center 50 (step125).

FIG. 5 illustrates a method that shows the operation of the controller45 of the remote operations center 50 in the embedded security system10. The controller 45 receives the sensor data and the current locationof the trailer from the communication device 30 (step 200). For example,the controller 45 receives data regarding the status of the trailerdoors from the door switch sensors 75 and information about the level ofthe fuel supply to the TRU 25 from the fuel level sensor 80. Thecontroller 45 then monitors and analyzes the received data and thecurrent location of the trailer 20 (step 205). In particular, thecontroller 45 compares the status of the trailer doors (e.g., opened orclosed) to instructions given to the driver and to the location of thetrailer (step 210). Further, the controller 45 monitors the level offuel supply to the TRU 25 (step 215). Also, the controller 45 comparesthe received current trailer location to instructions given to thedriver or to a premeditated trailer route (step 220). Therefore, thecontroller 45 determines a security risk at the trailer 20 based, atleast in part, on the received sensor data and the current location ofthe trailer 20 (step 225). The controller alarms the logisticsoperations center (step 230) if the entire trailer 20 is stolen, or ifthe door of the trailer is opened, or if the fuel supply for thetrailer's TRU is stolen. Further, the controller 45 returns to analyzingthe received data and the current location of the trailer 20 (step 205)when the controller determines that there is no security risk at thetrailer.

Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a new and usefulembedded security system for refrigerated containers. Various featuresand advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

1. An embedded security system for an environment-controlled trailerincluding a transportation refrigeration unit, the security systemcomprising: a plurality of sensors mounted to the trailer; and acommunication device embedded in the transportation refrigeration unitof the trailer, the communication device being configured to receivedata from the plurality of sensors, and to send the received data to acontroller being remote from the trailer, wherein the controller isconfigured to monitor the security status of the trailer and todetermine a security risk at the trailer based, at least in part, on thereceived data.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller ispositioned at a remote logistics operations center.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the communication device further comprises a globalpositioning system (GPS) embedded in the communication device.
 4. Thesystem of claim 3, wherein the GPS determines a current location of thetrailer and the communication device electronically communicates thecurrent location of the trailer to the controller.
 5. The system ofclaim 4, wherein the controller is configured to determine a securityrisk at the trailer based, at least in part, on the received trailerlocation.
 6. The system of claim 4, wherein the communication devicefurther comprises a communication circuit configured to send thereceived sensor data and trailer location to the controller.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising at least one antenna embedded inthe transportation refrigeration unit.
 8. The system of claim 1, whereinthe communication device further comprises a power supply circuitconfigured to control the power supplied to the communication device. 9.The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device is powered by astarter battery of the transportation refrigeration unit and a backupbattery embedded in the transportation refrigeration unit.
 10. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the communication device is configured toautomatically switch to the backup battery when the starter battery isremoved or disconnected.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensorsinclude door switch sensors that monitor the status of the trailerdoors.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configuredto compare the status of the trailer doors to instructions given to thedriver or the location of the trailer.
 13. The system of claim 1,wherein the sensors include at least one fuel level sensor that monitorsthe level of fuel supply to the transportation refrigeration unit. 14.The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device is embeddedinside a control box of the transportation refrigeration unit and ismounted to a controller of the transportation refrigeration unit. 15.The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises aprinted circuit board attached to a main printed circuit board of thecontroller of the transportation refrigeration unit.
 16. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the communication circuit utilizes at least one ofcellular, satellite, WiFi, wireless personal area network, and radiofrequency communication networks.
 17. A method for detecting a securityrisk at an environment-controlled trailer including a transportationrefrigeration unit and a communication device removably coupled to acontroller of the transportation refrigeration unit, the methodcomprising: obtaining sensor data from a plurality of sensors mounted tothe trailer and a current location of the trailer from a globalpositioning system (GPS); receiving communication, including the sensordata and the current trailer location, from the plurality of sensors andfrom the GPS; sending the sensor data and the current trailer locationto a controller that is remote from the trailer; and receiving aresponse from the controller, the response indicative of a security riskat the trailer.
 18. The method according to claim 17, further comprisingmonitoring the received sensor data and current trailer location anddetermining a security risk at the trailer based, at least in part, onthe received sensor data and current trailer location.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 17, further comprising powering the communicationdevice by a starter battery of the transportation refrigeration unit andby a backup battery embedded in the transportation refrigeration unit.20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising automaticallyswitching the communication device to the backup battery when thestarter battery is removed or disconnected.
 21. The method according toclaim 18, wherein monitoring the received sensor data further includescomparing the status of the trailer doors to instructions given to thedriver and to the location of the trailer.
 22. The method according toclaim 8, wherein monitoring the received sensor data further includesmonitoring a level of fuel supply to the transportation refrigerationunit.
 23. The method according to claim 18, wherein monitoring thecurrent location of the trailer further includes comparing the currenttrailer location to instructions given to the driver or to apremeditated trailer route.
 24. A security system for anenvironment-controlled container including an environment control unit,the security system comprising: a plurality of sensors mounted to thecontainer; a communication device removably connected to a controller ofthe environment control unit, the communication device configured toreceive sensor data from the plurality of sensors; a global positioningsystem embedded in the communication device and configured to provide acurrent location of the container to the communication device; alogistics operations center controller that is in electroniccommunication with the communication device and is configured to receivesensor data and the current location of the container from thecommunication device; and a computer readable memory storinginstructions that, when executed by the logistics operations centercontroller, cause the logistics operations center controller to monitorthe received sensor data and the location of the container, anddetermine a security risk at the container based, at least in part, onthe received data and trailer location.